Ra. Iaffaldano et al., PERCUTANEOUS BALLOON PERICARDIOTOMY - A DOUBLE-BALLOON TECHNIQUE, Catheterization and cardiovascular diagnosis, 36(1), 1995, pp. 79-81
We describe a double-balloon technique for performing a percutaneous b
alloon pericardiotomy. This technique was employed when the large, sin
gle dilation balloon customarily used for this procedure failed to ful
ly inflate across the parietal pericardium. Two smaller balloons were
advanced through the same skin tract and simultaneously inflated, thus
producing an adequate pericardial window. This double-balloon techniq
ue allowed for the more secure anchoring of the balloons across the pe
ricardium and for the delivery of greater dilation pressures. (C) 1995
Wiley-Liss, Inc.